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Tennessee 615 Area Code Overlay


The Tennessee Regulatory Authority approved an overlay for the 615 area code to accommodate the need for more telephone numbers. The new 629 area code will serve customers in the same geographic region as the current 615 area code.  An overlay does not require customers to change their existing area code.

When the overlay area code is implemented :
·         Beginning February 28, 2015, customers with 615 or the new 629 area code must dial the area code + the seven-digit number when making local calls.
·        Long distance calls remain the same. Callers need to dial 1 + area code + seven-digit telephone number whenever placing a long distance call from the 615 or 629 area code.



Completing calls:
·        To complete calls from a land line phone, the new dialing procedure requires callers to dial ten-digits (area code + telephone number) for every local call.  This means that all calls in the 615 area code that are currently dialed with seven-digits need to be dialed using the area code + telephone number.
·        To complete calls from a cellular or mobile phone, callers may dial the area code + telephone number or 1 + area code and telephone number whenever placing a call to a phone number with the 615 or 629 area code.
In addition to the new dialing procedure, automatic dialing equipment or other types of equipment that are programmed with a seven digit telephone number, need to be reprogrammed to use the new dialing procedure. Some examples are life safety systems, fax machines, Internet dial-up numbers, alarm and security systems, gates, speed dialers, mobile phone contact lists, call forwarding settings, and voice mail services.
Your telephone number, including current area code, will not change.

·        The price of a call, coverage area, and other rates and services will not change due to the overlay.
·        What is a local call now will remain a local call regardless of the number of digits dialed.
·        You can still dial just three digits to reach 911, as well as 211, 311, 411, 511, 611, 711, and 811.
Questions?   If you have any questions regarding information provided, contact more information is available through the Tennessee Regulatory Authority (TRA) at www.tn.gov/tra/dockets/1100018.htm